Rack and safe for racking and safe-keeping of billiard-balls.



w. CONAMA & c. A. VAUGHAN.

RACK AND SAFE FDR BACKING AND SAFE KEEPING 0F BILLIARD BALLS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, I918.

1,28%600. I Y Patnted Nov. 12, I918.

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[RACK AND SAFE FOR RACKING AND SAFE KEEPING or BILLIARD BALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1918.

1 284,600. Patanted Nov. 12, 1918.

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BACK AND SAFE FOR RAGKING AND SAFE KEEPING 0F BILLIARD BALLS.

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1,284,600. Patented N0v.,12, 1918.

I 3 SHEET SSSSSSS 3- l] N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CONAMA AND CARL A. VAUGHAN, OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA; SAID VAUGHAN ASSIGNOR TO SAID GONAMA.

BACK AND SAFE FOR BACKING AND SAFE-KEEPING- OF BILLIARD-BALLS.

Application filed June 20, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM CONAMA and CARL A. VAUGHAN, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Olmsted and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks and Safes for Racking and Safe-Keeping of Billiard Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rack and safe for racking and safe keeping of billiard balls.

The object of this invention is to provide a rack and safe which may be readily attached to any table, and one which may be used in lieu of the ordinary racks on the walls.

A further object is to provide means for feeding the balls from the rack when desired.

A stillfurther object is to provide a suitable locking means which will prevent the.

balls when not in use from being molested and to prevent the actuation of the operating mechanism.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the table with the rack and safe keeping device attached showing the cover applied;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the rack and safe keeping device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the rack partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on 7 line 55 of Fig. 2 through the agitating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on hne 66 of Flg. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the locking means of the cover and actuating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2 disclosing the device for separating the balls into groups.

1, indicates a pool table. 2, represents a rack or casing provided with a trough 3, which is suitably lined with felt or the like to protect the balls and is provided with a false bottom at. This false bottom is rounded to coincide with the curvature of the balls and is .he dfirm1y at it r ar e d While Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 240,948.

it is vertically movable at its forward end. Beneath the movable end of the false bottom 4L 1s a tongue or projection 5, provided with two inclined surfaces 6 and 7 Slidably mounted in the lower end of the rack or casing is the actuating knob 8; The upper end of this knob is rounded as at 9, and is adapted to engage the inclined surfaces 6' and 7 In the position shown in Fig. 2, the knob is holding the false bottom in a substantially parallel position with the balls therein in such a manner that they will not roll out of the rack. Leading from the trough 3 is a downwardly extending outlet 10, which is adapted to direct the balls from the trough into the receptacle 11, suspended I upon a sultable hook 12, secured to the forward end of the rack or casing.

When the actuating knob is moved to the right, the knob engages the inclined surface 6, and allows the false bottom to assume an angle which, will cause the balls to roll to the left hand of the trough and out of the opening 10.

-The opening 10 is normally closed by a sliding trap door 13, which is likewise connected to and actuated by the knob 8. When the knob 8 is moved to the right allowing the false bottom of the trough to assume a slanting position, the sliding trap door,

clears the opening 10, allowing the balls to pass through. A slot 10 is provided in the rear of the trap door 13 to allow the tongue 5 to be'lowered as the knob 8, is moved to the right.

Means are provided for kicking or actuating the balls when the knob is moved to the right causing them to roll toward the open end of the trough. This is preferably accomplished by the following means:

15, indicates a plunger provided with a suitable head which is mounted for horizontal movement upon a stub 16, extending from the rear end of the rack or casing 2. 17, indicates a rock shaft pivoted for horizontal movement in the block 18, arranged directly beneath the rear end of the false bottom 5, and the link 19, secured to the lower end of the rock shaft is in turn con-. nected to the actuating knob 8, and it will be seen that as the knob is moved rearwardly or to the right, the plunger 15, is moved forwardly with relation thereto and is adapted to strike the last one of the balls in the trough, this arrangement starting the balls to rolling toward the open end when it is desired to remove them from the rack.

'20, indicates a cover which is detachably secured to the rack and is adapted when properly applied to securely lock the balls in the rack or casing thereby preventing anyone from molesting the balls when the table is not in operation.

At the forward end of the rack or casing 2, is arranged a locking mechanism which preferably consists of two vertically arranged bolts 21 and 22. These bolts are somewhat out of vertical alinement and have their inner adjacent ends connected together by a link 23, the vertical bolt 21, being provided with a suitable spring 24:, which is adapted to normally hold the bolts 21 and 22 in their retracted positions. A key is adapted to be inserted into a suitable hole in the casing and into a hole 25 in the connecting link 23 whereby the bolts may be simultaneously moved outwardly the upper one serving to lock the cover while the lower one is adapted to engage the trap door 13, and prevent its horizontal movement.

Extending along one side of the trough is a grooved member :26, which is adapted to receive a plurality of vertical pins or markers 27. These pins or markers are adapted to receive a band 28, which is of slightly less diameter than the balls and are adapted to be interposed at predetermined intervals between the balls to separate the same into groups, which groups represent the respective, number of balls for each player. These bands are adapted to extend rearwardly from the pins and bent at such an angle as to prevent the bands from being turned in one dirertion; namely, to the right, said bands, however, being so arranged as to readily turn to the left when the balls are being dispensed from the trough. The bands 28 are prevent ed from turning to the right in order that the balls may roll only in one direction namely; to the outlet thereby eliminating the possibility of the respective groups of balls becoming mixed up.

From the above it will be seen that we have provided a very simple and accurate device for the safe keeping of billiard balls and one from which the balls may be readily dispensed with very little trouble, the several groups of balls being arranged in groups in the trough in such a manner that each player is enabled to ascertain just the number of balls yet to be played. It is further seen that we have provided a device for the safe keeping of the balls when not in use thus eliminating the necessity of collecting the several balls after each game and finally at night before closing.

We claim 1. A rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, a false bottom vertically movable at one end, inclined surfaces arranged beneath the false bottom at the movable end, and a knob capable of horizontal movement adapted to engage said inclined surfaces, whereby the false bottom is tilted to cause the balls to move toward the outlet.

2. A rack for-billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, a false bottom vertically movable at one end, a sliding door adapted to normally close said outlet, and means for simultaneously tilting said vertically movable false bottom and moving said door horizontally for causing the balls to move toward the outlet and opening the outlet.

3. A rack for billiard balls comprising a 'asing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, a tilting false bottom, and a door for normally closing said outlet.

4. A rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, a tilting false bot tom, a door for normally closing said outlet, an agitating device arranged at the rear of said longitudinal opening and means for simultaneously actuating said sliding door to open said outlet and actuate said agitating means.

5. A rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, a downwardly inclined outlet at one end communicating therewith, a false bottom vertically movable at one end, a sliding door, a kicker arranged at the rear of said longitudinal opening. and means for simultaneously actuating said vertically movable false bottom. said sliding door and said kicker.

6. A rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, a false bottom vertically movable at one end whereby the balls are directed toward the outlet, agitating means arranged at the rear end of said longitudinal opening and a common means for actuating said vertically movable false bottom and said agitating means.

7. A. rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, a cover for Said opening, a sliding door for closing said outlet and a locking mechanism for said cover and said sliding door.

8. A rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end communicating therewith, and detachable means arranged in said casing for dividing the balls into groups.

9. A rack for billiard balls comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal opening on one side thereof, an outlet at one end com inunicating therewith, a false bottom Vertically movable at one end arranged in said opening, means for tilting said false bottom whereby the balls are directed toward said 10 opening and means for dividing said opening into sections, said means also acting to prevent the balls from rolling in but one direction.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

WILLIAM CONAMA. CARL A. VAUGHAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. 0. 

